90% of CD and internet sales of Littlemen’s debut ep will go towards supporting The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation. The charity was set up by internationally renowned chef David Nicholls following the paralysis of his son following a swimming accident in Australia. Littlemen originally formed with the intention to create music that would provoke and promote awareness for much needed research to find a cure for spinal injuries.
The title track from the Obstacles EP, deals directly with the concerns of The Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation. With all prior information it’s impossible to hear the opening lines of “met a man in a metal cage reaching for the sky” without being immediately compelled. The relaxed Americana style of the song hints at the more majestic moments of Whiskeytown and brings the lyrical content of the track straight to the fore.
As a result the title track can make for slightly uncomfortable listening. Lyrical moments such as “his greatest wish is to be free from all the chains” and “he sees the star he’s wishing for but cannot understand” are loaded with such intensity that the track is in danger of overwhelming the listener. You could argue that this makes it difficult for people to engage with the song. The risk of having such an obvious message is that for those of us fortunate enough to have not had our lives affected by paralysis, it may be near impossible to relate the song to your own experiences.
Luckily, the repeated chorus refrain “he can not tear himself apart from obstacles” is so universal in its scope that the song connects. The sweeping distorted guitar riff that punctuates this creates a very real moment of release. At this instant the song means something to people, whether they are hearing the song knowing the origins of the project or are just feeling a little teary after closing time.
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The subtlety of the arrangement and instrumentation also means that Obstacles retains its power after repeated listens. While at first the precise production of Nick Allen leaves you gasping for some rough edges, after living with the song you realise the crispness allows Obstacles to transcend its inspiration and become a song that can quickly become part of your life. With absolutely no wish to undermine the message Littlemen are promoting, the main victory of the song is that it is something you want to listen to. It is aimed directly at the mainstream spectrum of alternative country music but is all the better for it.
With Littlemen planning a full length album later this year, the ep’s other composition A Long Road offers promise that the band is more than just a philanthropist project. It’s the type of heartbreaking ballad we’ve all heard a hundred times before but the craftsmanship present hints that the band could develop into something special. Although the pristine production may grate over a whole album, there’s certainly enough to warrant keeping an ear out for Littlemen after all the charity money has been collected.
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